Former Cherryville Police Chief Woody Burgess has been placed on probation on embezzlement charges stemming from a scheme that involved nearly a half-dozen city employees.

Multiple media outlets reported that U.S. District Judge Robert Conrad Jr. on Tuesday sentenced the 61-year-old Burgess to one year of probation and six months of home detention. He also must perform 100 hours of community service.

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Burgess also must pay more than $11,000 in restitution and a $1,000 fine.

Federal prosecutors said that for nearly a year, Burgess told the city's then-finance director to write checks to buy guns from a sporting goods store for his personal use.

Burgess was police chief in Cherryville for about 10 years. He is the only one in the embezzlement investigation who was not sentenced to prison.